Technology isn't going anywhere, in fact it is rapidly becoming more and more integrated in everyday life. People utilize and rely on technology for communication (news, skyping, iming, e-mails, social networking site), work (projects, data collection and anlysis), entertainment (videos, movies, tv shows, games, social networking sites), organization (calendars, photo albums), learning (research, discovery, simulations). Technology is a tool that successful people know and use. It is therefore pertinent that as teachers, we give our students access to and experience with technology.
Teaching technology is so important, standards have been created to assure all students are receiving and technology-rich education. I have selected 3 standards that are most significant to me, and I have discussed their importance and possible classroom implementation below:
Teaching technology is so important, standards have been created to assure all students are receiving and technology-rich education. I have selected 3 standards that are most significant to me, and I have discussed their importance and possible classroom implementation below:
Creativity and Innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking and problem solving skills to develop innovative products and processes using (digital) technology.
Creativity and Innovation is the highest level of Blooms Taxonomy. If students can successfully generate new ideas and create a digital product, they have reached the highest level of thinking. To meet this standards, students may create brochure (about a health problem, current event or country) using Google docs/adobe illustrator/adobe photoshop.
Creativity and Innovation is the highest level of Blooms Taxonomy. If students can successfully generate new ideas and create a digital product, they have reached the highest level of thinking. To meet this standards, students may create brochure (about a health problem, current event or country) using Google docs/adobe illustrator/adobe photoshop.
Digital Citizenship Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to digital technology and practice legal, ethical, and responsible behavior.
Digital Citizenship has to do with the human rights and responsibilities surrounding technology. Just like classroom expectations are established, technology expectations must be established. With teacher guidance, students could create a technology constitution. Students will understand that if they violate the technology constitution there will be consequences (which the class should have discussed and established). Digital Citizenship encompasses so many different things (cyber bullying, copy righting, etc.) it will be important to consistently monitor and review expectations.
Teachers could share the following website about Cyber Bullying with students: http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html
Research and Information Fluency Students select and apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, validate, and use information. Students:
Technology is a learning tool. Students need to know how to use it to find information. There is SO much information out there, and a lot of it is misleading/fictional/unreliable. Students need to be able to filter through all the information to find good sources of information.
Students may show their ability to use technology as a research tool by writing a persuasive paper. Students would need to include support for their arguments and find opposing arguments. All research sources should be properly cited.
Students may show their ability to use technology as a research tool by writing a persuasive paper. Students would need to include support for their arguments and find opposing arguments. All research sources should be properly cited.
Overcoming Challenges
There are many excuses teachers give for not incorporating technology in their classrooms, but none of them are legitimate. Here are a few excuses with my solutions:
"I only have one computer in my classroom and the labs are always full"
You can do SO much with just one computer. Share YOUR computer with students: Have students take turns entering data into a spreadsheet. Have students take turns picking pictures to put into a slidshow. Have groups take turns entering information into a google doc.
There are many excuses teachers give for not incorporating technology in their classrooms, but none of them are legitimate. Here are a few excuses with my solutions:
"I only have one computer in my classroom and the labs are always full"
You can do SO much with just one computer. Share YOUR computer with students: Have students take turns entering data into a spreadsheet. Have students take turns picking pictures to put into a slidshow. Have groups take turns entering information into a google doc.
"My students don't have access to technology at home"
Don't make homework involving technology a requirement. Make technology projects in class projects. Provide students with resources and suggestions: use school computers, go to the public library.
"Technology is always advancing. How can I possibly keep up?"
Make technology an everyday part of your life. Use technology inside and outside of class, and you will progress with it. Read news articles about technology. Subscribe to a technology magazine. Talk to your students about technology they use in their everyday lives. Don't be afraid to try something new.
To find out more about overcoming challenges, check out Barry Jahn's document: tinyurl.com/stockanswer
Don't make homework involving technology a requirement. Make technology projects in class projects. Provide students with resources and suggestions: use school computers, go to the public library.
"Technology is always advancing. How can I possibly keep up?"
Make technology an everyday part of your life. Use technology inside and outside of class, and you will progress with it. Read news articles about technology. Subscribe to a technology magazine. Talk to your students about technology they use in their everyday lives. Don't be afraid to try something new.
To find out more about overcoming challenges, check out Barry Jahn's document: tinyurl.com/stockanswer
Thanks for aligning with the HOTS of Blooms.
ReplyDeleteAnd seamlessly modeling with technology is an excellent suggestion --- making it a part of everyday life.